F800GS Forks?

[moriver]

Hello all

I am a looking at replacing my KLR 650 with a F800GS. The KLR does it all, just a little rough I guess. I do mostly slab and gravel riding. I am trying to figure out what all the buz is about the forks on the GS needing upgraded? Whats up with that? My KLR has stock forks, I am a big guy and have no problem. So whats the real deal? Do they have a real problem or is it just a common upgrade? Much thanks all and have a good one.

[DoWorkSon]

I think the main gripes are that the suspension is too soft and non adjustable... My F8 is fairly new and within the first few days of riding I noticed that it was really soft to the point where I had to change my whole way of riding(coming from a sport bike with adjustable/stiffer suspension....

There are some upgrades ranging from $500-$1800... My next upgrade will be the Traxxion kit, unless Ohlins comes out with a cheaper one

[Casejeep]

Originally Posted by moriver

Hello all

I am a looking at replacing my KLR 650 with a F800GS. The KLR does it all, just a little rough I guess. I do mostly slab and gravel riding. I am trying to figure out what all the buz is about the forks on the GS needing upgraded? Whats up with that? My KLR has stock forks, I am a big guy and have no problem. So whats the real deal? Do they have a real problem or is it just a common upgrade? Much thanks all and have a good one.

Yeah they are just soft, i dont think it is a common upgrade though, so people just bitch about it. Ive never had a real problem with them, you just deal.

[Loutre]

It depends on what you are doing with your bike.

For daily commute on pavement there not a problem at all. You just have an annoying diving when you're hitting the front brake.
For doing some mild offroad and back road sections just put some progressive springs in them. That's what I'm planning on doing next spring. some hyperpro will cost like 150€ and the diving will go away.

for some serious off road stuff you'll probably want some adjustable ones.

[Casejeep]

Originally Posted by Loutre

It depends on what you are doing with your bike.

For daily commute on pavement there not a problem at all. You just have an annoying diving when you're hitting the front brake.
For doing some mild offroad and back road sections just put some progressive springs in them. That's what I'm planning on doing next spring. some hyperpro will cost like 150€ and the diving will go away.

for some serious off road stuff you'll probably want some adjustable ones.

Ive done 500miles on dirt in Death Valley with stock suspension. it wasnt the end of the world.

[machinebuilder]

for those that discount the improvement of upgrading the forks

Yes you can ride most places with the stock forks. they are soft and tend to be harsh for 2 reasons, 1 they bottom out 2 they hydrolock

yes the hyperpro/ heavier oil does give some improvement (no personal experience)

going to the traxxion forks was a night/day improvement. IMHO there is no bigger bang for the buck on this bike.

there is a local dirt/gravel road that was brutal at 35mph, it felt like a jackhammer. After I put the Traxxion Forks (their "Extreme Offroad" setup) I had to slow down at 50MPH, I had to look to see if the road had been grade recently it was so smooth. I find even on pavement I am willing to ride 15-20mph faster

I agree with Loutre, " It depends on what you are doing with your bike."

BUT I probably wouldn't spend the money until you really want to, it is not a cheap upgrade

[moriver]

Alright thanks all..That sounds about what I was hoping for. With my round shape and slow riding style it sounds like a non issue.

[sorebutt]

You will think you died and went to heaven when you compare the KLR to the 800 forks. While they aren't the best they are 10x better than the KLR forks. I've had mine from Alaska to Moab and they work fine. I wouldln't think of spending the money for an upgrade. There are too many other things to spend the money on that would do more good.

[Snowy]

Having completely replaced the front end I can sum it up this simply:

Best move ever.

Night and day difference. Completely different bike to ride over rocks and ruts. The old set up was shit, just shit. Anyone that says different wouldn't know their asshole from their ear hole.

Average speed over rocky trails has increased dramatically, but the fatigue and stress associated with riding 2 up on 4x4 tracks has dropped to the "enjoyable" level rather than the "work" level it was. It runs straight over the top of almost anything without getting upset. If the bash plate will clear it, you just ride over it. Dead simple.

If you haven't changed one and ridden it over a good variety of terrain, then you just don't know what you're talking about. That's it in a nutshell.

It's a nice bike standard, it's a fucking great bike once you bin the front end. Make sure you include a steering damper. The best improvement you can make on a dollar for dollar basis.



Wifey resting in shade drinking iced water due to heat stress after 250kms of rocky firetrails and 4x4 tracks during 32 C day, just prior to storm breaking and temp dropping to 11.5 C. Sat on 100kph on open firetrail to Mtn highway, then 140 to nearest town (54kms away) to get out of the storm (and refuel). Absolutely shits on the way it used to handle. It would have been a handful in deep gravel at 70 or 80 before, now I sit on 100 and am amazed at how stable it is.

[Steveman]

Originally Posted by moriver

Alright thanks all..That sounds about what I was hoping for. With my round shape and slow riding style it sounds like a non issue.

In fact its a non issue. Fully agree with Casejeep. Am still on standard set up, can drag footpegs on pavement and most mid size sportsbike are only faster if the rider is better. Does not happen too often

In the rough the fork bottoms out quickly. But so what. I let it bang and adjust my riding style to it as far as this is possible. No problems so far. I admit that I think about a 300 buck mod (stiffer springs and differnt oil) which would make sense but I am lazy so maybe I just keep going

[sieg]

On gravel and pavement if the KLR was OK the GS will be fine

[itsatdm]

I actually preferred the KLR suspension. I wish I knew how good the F800gs suspension was, I would not have spent the money.

You won't know how bad they were until you find how good this bike can be with decent suspension.

[picard]

+1

Originally Posted by machinebuilder

going to the traxxion forks was a night/day improvement. Imho there is no bigger bang for the buck on this bike.

[Snowy]

You always get the "I've ridden to hell and back on standard suspension and it's just fine".....and as much as they think they have found the limits and can ride around them.....no....just....no.

I'm aware you a real self appointed adventure Gods....but....if you haven't done it you don't know shit.

My 75 year old mother has driven millions of kms. She knows all there is to know about driving.

[Steveman]

Originally Posted by Snowy

You always get the "I've ridden to hell and back on standard suspension and it's just fine".....and as much as they think they have found the limits and can ride around them.....no....just....no.

I'm aware you a real self appointed adventure Gods....but....if you haven't done it you don't know shit.

My 75 year old mother has driven millions of kms. She knows all there is to know about driving.

Cool. The TO talks about "slab and gravel riding".

Meaning I havent done it on the F8 does not mean I havent done it on other bikes. Depends what you want to do with the bike. For my Italian Alps tour (80/20) the standard forks and TKC 80's are good enough. And for the tuff stuff I hop on the BRP (or EXC)

And seriously, me as a god I would never ride to hell, amen